Comments on: Where Should The Madison High-Speed Rail Train Station Go?

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:10:44 +0000

@Sara S This article came out before the Capital was offered as a viable option, generally it had been said it couldn’t be done so this was an option to get close. Now that is is at the Capital and apparently that can work, yes 100% we like it there, I look forward to biking to Intermodal, catching the train to the Capital and then biking around Madison!

By: Sara S

Sara S — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:03:03 +0000

I think they should definitely put the station near the Capital. If I had to take a cab after riding the train to get to downtown Madison I’d be much less enthusiastic about using the train. Convenience is key! Also Eric I agree with you. And I think people need to realize that there are too many people living on this planet and we have limited resources. We need to change in order to adapt to our changing world. This train is a step in the right direction… less cars, less traffic, less emissions, increase jobs, eventually the train would help circulate money into the economy, easier commute for students, and could even decrease deaths on Wisconsin roads etc. I don’t see how it is a bad idea.

By: Eric Schierer

Eric Schierer — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:18:36 +0000

@No Train So, because “unemployment is in the double digits,” upgrading and improving the state’s infrastructure, which will put people to work in the short-to-medium term, and improve conditions for economic growth in the long term is a bad idea? I just don’t follow.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:19:03 +0000

@PS If anyone is seeing this article for the first time now, we of course love the downtown Madison location for the stop.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:14:03 +0000

Yes! @No Train just made my day. Utilizing all caps to yell!, swearing, tons of questions marks, and some name calling ..nice…. that’s great.

By: NO Train!

NO Train! — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:47:46 +0000

http://www.notrain.com/

WE DON’T WANT THIS STUPID AS$ TRAIN! $817 Million to build? Unemployment is in the double digits, the state is going bankrupt WTFAWT????????????????????? Idiots who want this train better pony up more cash to support it once they realize it won’t be profitable.

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:13:46 +0000

@Matt Welcome to the conversation…

By: Matthew Trussoni

Matthew Trussoni — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:11:37 +0000

I am new to the conversation, but think I might have some useful insight. The HSR will be used to support intermediate range travelers, up to around 500 miles. Longer distances will still be serviced by air transit. These longer distance travelers are expecting longer travel times and transferring between transportation types, so having to take a light rail to the airport is not a big deal.

The HSR will get the most ridership by connecting urban centers. So the station should be located as close to the center as logically possible and be designed as an inter or multi modal station where people have the choice of what transit to take. I think a light rail around Madison connecting to this station is a good idea because once people arrive from the HSR they feel that they have arrived in Madison. Adding an extra trip from the airport is not the arrival experience that encourages ridership in the intermediate distance; people will drive in order to feel like they arrive where they need to be.

I am not filmier with the location that Mr. Gore proposes, but local people usually know best. The train platforms will need to be on the order of 1400 feet long for HSR, but a lot of these problems can be solved with creative solutions.

What the WDOT should really do is support a design competition for the new station to bring in ideas and spur conversation about the best solution.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:53:47 +0000

Scott,
If you look at the following map, you will see why the route past the Monona terrace would not work for a future extension to the twin cities by going past Monona terrace the rail line would not be able to be extended to the twin cities without requiring the train to run on a longer route, or backtrack which would need significant improvements to make it even suitable for basic low speed passenger rail. In addition any improvements to a route that runs past Monona Terrace to Minneapolis would not benefit the existing Empire Builder rail line and would probably need a lot more of a substantial Environmental Impact Study(EIS) than if it was to follow on a route similar to the Existing lines which could be just upgraded with a Finding of No Significant Impact(FONSI) statement saying that there would be a lot less of an environmental impact because it would be on existing passenger rail tracking.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/docs/railmap.pdf

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:42:31 +0000

@Scott I think the issue is cost, and transit time..

By: Scott Riedel

Scott Riedel — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:09:20 +0000

Would it not be possible to build a station under the Monona Terrace complex?

By: Dave Reid

Dave Reid — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:02:33 +0000

@johnsturgen
http://twurl.nl/3riyo5

Page 3 “▪ Yahara Station is on the same, existing mainline track owned by WSOR as evaluated for the airport and Pennsylvania Ave. stations.”